CSF infection following EVD placement

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An Assessment of Patients with Microbiologically Proven Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Infection after External Ventricular Drain (EVD) Placement

• IRAS ID

  137700

• Research summary

  Patients with certain conditions affecting the brain (e.g. brain haemorrhage or trauma to the head) may experience a build-up of the fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) which surrounds it. This can lead to an increase in the pressure of CSF, which is potentially dangerous. In some circumstances it is necessary to insert a device called an external ventricular drain (EVD) into the head to divert CSF away from the brain and relieve the pressure. While this procedure is undertaken like any other neurosurgical operation in the operating theatre under general anaesthetic, in many cases, the insertion of an EVD often results in infection of the CSF. It is important to find out about the types of bugs causing such infections so that future preventative and therapeutic treatments can be more specifically targeted towards these types of organism.

  This study will review previous patients undergoing insertion of an EVD at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust to determine the proportion of those getting a CSF infection. In addition, information about the types of bugs present, and whether leakage of CSF from the EVD may be associated with infection, will be collected. The effect of CSF infection on patient recovery six months after insertion of the EVD, and the costs associated with CSF infection, will be investigated.

  The information yielded by this study will be useful in the design of future studies of interventions aimed at preventing CSF infection after EVD placement.

• REC name

  London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/LO/1672

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Oct 2013

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion